Combined desk and table



2 She'ets-Sheet l W. L. BURKS COMBINED DESK AND TABLE Filed Jan.

yAug. 11, 1931.

Aug. 11, 1931. w. L. BuRKs 1,818,606

`COMBINED DESK AND TABLE Filed Jan. l11', 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 /1 f//l/I//r/ s 3 j: lmlllllllll s 34- 5 11 NIN A., n I rlllllllllllllllll Il Awdlllzix, *Y i# nmm E M 52 E: 21 5@ T *5 l, I, Y

Patented Aug. 11, 1931 WILLIAM L. BURKS, OF PLEASANT RIDGE, VIRGINIA COMBINED DESK AND TABLE Application filed January 11, 1929. ISerial No. 331,787.

This invention relates to an improved construction of desk and table combined.l

The object of the invention is to provide a combination desk and table which may be used Jfor various purposes, but which is especially designed for use by Sunday school Y teachers who ',usually have their scholars gather closely about them in a circle or semicircle. J

In many instances the scholars are compelled to sit upon chairs without any means whatever to support books or papers which they may have occasion to use, with the result that great inconvenience is experienced and much time wasted.

The present invention .therefore aims to provide a desk for the teacher and a table about which the scholars can gather and upon which books and papers may be supported for ready handling and reference. n

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig.'1 shows the improved desk and table in top view.

Fig. 2 illustrates the same in vertical longitudinal section and shows the structure as it would appear if viewed on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a sectional detail through the table-top, one of the front legs and one of the horizontal top-supports, the section.l being taken on the line 8 3 of Fig. 1, look# ing in the direction of the dart.

Fig. 4 illustrates a vertical cross-sectional detail through the top and the under structure and shows the construction as it would appear if viewed on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, the desk-part however being omitted in this view.

Fig. 5 shows another cross-sectional detail through the table-top, the section being taken kon the line 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 illustrates a sectional elevation through the table-top at one side wall of.

the desk to show how the desk is held down on the top.

Fig. 7 shows a perspectivedetail of the upper end of one of the legs, and

Fig. 8 illustrates a side view of the same.

Referring to the drawings the numerals 10 and 11 designate the two vertical front legs respectively of the structure and 12 and 13 the rear legs thereof.

Each of these legs has an upper end of a peculiar construction as best illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 of the'drawings in that from two sides thereof there are slots 14 and 15 which extend inwardly toward the center of the leg and intersect at their inner ends while at the side opposite that in which the slot 15 is located there isv an upper endnotch 16. This upper end notch 16,l is of a much less depth vertically than the depth of the slots 14 and 15, as readily seenin the drawings but the slots and the notch all open at the upper end of the leg.

Between the legs 10 and 12 there extends a horizontal top-bar 17 the ends 'of which projectinto the vertical slots 14 .in said legs loana 12. f In a similar manner a top-barv18 extends horizontally between the legs 11 and k13 and the ends of this bar enter the slots 14 in` said latter legs. y

A horizontal cross-.bar 19 extends between the two front legs '10 and 11 and this crossbar yhas its opposite-ends reduced whereby 'to form horizontal extensions 20, as clearly shown in Fig. `5 of the drawings. These v extensions are iiush with'the top edge of the bar 19 and extend through the short vertical Vnotches 16 in the upper endsr of the legs 10 and` 11and project horizontally beyond said legs, as shown in broken lines in. Fig. 1 and. in full lines in Fig. 5 of the drawings.

Between'the frontv legs.10 11 and the rear legs 12-13 the structure Lis provided with an intermediatecross-bar 21 which is provided with notches or cut-outs 22 to form 'end extensions 23. These extensions 23,

. pass through upper edge-'notches 24 that are provided inr the upper horizontal edges of the bar 17 and 18 so that the bars 18 21 may cross each other and the loars 17 21 may ,also cross each other.` In other words the '95 lower edge of bar 21, has a bottom notch 22 while theupper edge of bars 17 and 18 has a top notch 24 and by registering these two notches the'two bars 21 and 17 or 21 and 18 `may be allowed to crossv each other andV extend at right angles with respect to each other.

Each rear lee' 12-13 sustains a short cross-bar which latter seats in the slot 15, and the notch 16 and has an outer end 26 that extends horizontally and laterally from the leg, as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. 3, of the drawing.

The inner end of the cross-bars 25 butt against and are suitably secured to one end of a brace bar 27 which latter extend in directions parallel with the bars 17 and 18. The other end of each base bar has a reduced end 28 which enters a notch 29 in the top edge of the cross-bar 21 as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings.

It is to be understood that the four legs 10-11-12 and 13 are joined by the bars 17-18192527 and 21 and that the top surfaces of said legs and all of said bars are on a level or the same horizontal plane whereby said elements will form a frame or support for a table top 40 which latter is illustrated in top view in Fig. 1.

It is particularly to be noted that the table top is rounded at its forward end while at its rear end it has two side extensions 41 with a central opening 30 between the said extensions of suicient width for the instructor or teacher to be seated on a chair that is located between said side extensions.

It will also be noted, by references to Figs. 1--3-4 and 5 of the drawings that the ends 20 of bar 19; the ends 23 of cross-bar 21 and the ends 26 of the bars 25 all extend laterally from the bars 17 and 18 and the legs and that these extensions 20-23 and 26 all form braces or supports for the projecting portions of the table top.

In addition to the table top for ,the use of upils or scholars gathered around the walls 37 of the desk with pivoted hooks 38, which project down into slots 39 in the table top and hook beneath a cross-pin 40 located in said slots as shown in Fig. G of the drawings.

By means of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts shown and described I provide a combined table and desk that meets a condition in Sunday vSchools that materially aids in conducting the lesson instructions because each pupil or scholar is supplied with a support on which papers and books can be laid and handled with facility.

Having described my invention, I claim,-

A combined desk and table for a group of children and a teacher, said table comprising a plurality of legs, a table-top sustained horizontally by said legs, said table top having a recesscxtending inwardly from one side toward the conter thereof and having a flat working surface for `children all the way around its marginal portion from one side of said recess to the opposite side thereof, and a desk seated on the table-top with its bottom elevated above the upper surface of the table top said desk extending over the recess in order to provide a higher elevated working surface under which the knees of the teacher may extend.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

WILLIAM L. BURKs tab e, I also provide a central desk 31 for the use of the teacher yor instructor. This desk has a bottom 32, which is somewhat elevated above the top of the table whereby to provide ample space between the bottom of the desk and the Hoor for the'knees of the instructor. This is particularly desirable when the tables are made low in height y for use in primary grades where small children are being instructed.

In this instance I provide the desk with l a hinged cover 33 and I also provide a construction whereby the desk niay be detached from the top if desired. While the means for effecting this may vary, in this instance I provide the forward vertical wall 34 of the desk with a bolt device 35 which bolt may be projected downwardly into an opening 36 in the table top, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby to prevent the desk from sliding forward on the top 28.

Tohold the desk down in place on the tabletop I provide each of the opposite side 

